Automatic lock



March 15, 1960 R. a. WATSON AUTOMATIC LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April29, 1957 k W mm; M W E a I f e a? 0 R w March 15, 19 0 R. G. WATSON2,928,271

AUTOMATIC LOCK Filed April 29, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 6 Fig.7

ax 4W m, E1 4 /8 Fig .9 '5. f 64 3a 44 Fig. /2

Robert 6. Watson INVENTOR.

BY MMFM plane of line 99 in Figure 6;

Un t d s -Pa 2,928,271 AUTOMATIC LOCK 1 Robert G. Watson, Pittsburgh,Pa. Application April 29, 1957, Serial No. 655,130. g

' Claims. c1. 70 2s This invention relates to a class of locks, and moreparticularly to anew concept or" combination lock construction.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa push button operated combination lock which is simple and convenientto use and substantially foolproof in operation. A further object of thepresent invention resides in the provision of a push button actuatedcombination'lock which has means for resetting the ratchets thereof sothat even after tampering the device can be easily operated and openedby an authorized person knowing the combination. V

The construction of this invention features a combination look employinga housing constructed of a series of superimposed plates eachhaving-recesses and showing the cam action provided by the plate inmoving the pawl tangent to the ratchet wheel after engagement with oneof the teeth of the ratchet wheel so as to cause the ratchet wheel torotate; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the rod and associated stops.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout thevarious views,reference numeral generally designates the automatic lock comprising thepresent invention. This automatic lock 20 includes a housing 22 of novelconstruction and including a plurality of vertically superimposed platesindicated by reference numerals 1 through 17-. Each of the plates areprovided with apertures in the corners thereof for'reception of rivetsor other suitable fasteners 18 for holding the plates in their assembledstate.

The plates 1 through 4 are provided with openings 24,. 26, 28, andtherein forming a bore generally designated at 32 for reception of theshorter leg 34 of a shackle 36 having a longer leg 3% received in theopenings of various openings therein for reception of the componentparts of V the invention. Utilized in the invention are a series ofdrums mounted on a shaft and pawls slidably mounted 'for'selectiveengagement with the ratchets to operate the ratchets to release the longleg of a U-shaped shackle engaged by flanges on the drums on which'theratchets are mounted. I

Still further objects and features of this invention reside 'in theprovision of an automatic lock that is simple in construction, which canhe opened without requiring visual inspection of the lock so as to beespecially adapted for uses in poor lighting arrangements, and which iseasy and fast to use. I 7

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention, together with the numerous other advantages thereof areattained by this combination lock, a preferred embodiment of which hasbeen illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of exhousing ofthe invention;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line66 of. Figure 3; 7

Figures 7'and 8 are schematic viewsillustrating the manner in which'theshackle may be utilized to release the ratchets from the stops; v

Figure 9 is a sectional detail View as taken along the Figure 10 is asectional detail. view as taken along the plane of line 1(i10 inFigure6;

sizes formed in the plates'i to form a bore 40.

The shortleg 34 carries a depression 42 and it is noted that a springpressed d'etent 44 urged by a spring 46 is provided. The ball detent t tand the spring 46' are mounted in an opening 48 in plate 3 whichcommunicates with the opening 28.

The long leg 38 carries apin 50 which is adapted to extend through theopening 52. provided in the plate 1 and which opening is provided withextensions as at 54. The openings 56, 58, and't) are of larger size'thanthe opening 52 for reception of a spring 64 seated there'- in andengageable with the pin 50 for urging the leg 38 into an outer positionwith respect .to the casing 2 2'. i

The plate 5 isapertured as at 66 for the reception of the head 68 of ashaft which is non-rotata-biy fixed in through 16 and cooperating theplate 5. The head 68 is preferably integrally formed Figure 11 is anenlarged sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 11-11 inFigure 6, illustrating in particular the manner in which the pawls areassociated with the ratchets; v

Figure 12 is a view similar to'that of Figurell illustreating. the pawl;in an inwardly-depressed positiou atld with the shaft '70 which isslotted as at 72 and which extends downwardly through various other ofthe plates. Drums 74, 76, and 78 are mounted on the shaft and it isnoted that springs Sli 82 and 84- are secured to the shaft 70' and tothe drums for urging the drums to an initial position. Each of the drumscarry lugs as can be seen best in Figures 11 and 12 and as indicated atfor engagement by stops 9-2 when the springs have served to rotate thedrums'to the initial position.

Thedrums '74, 76, and 78 are substantially identical in construction. Ascan be seen best in Figures 10 and 11, as well as Figure 6, each of thedmms is provided with a fiange as at 94 having a recess 96 thereinthrough which the long leg .38 can pass, and it is noted that theflanges of the drums are adapted to seat innotches 98, 100, and 1&2.When the drums are .aligned so that the notches and the recessescoincide, the shackle can, of course, be removed from the housing. E

Providing themeans for rotating the drums are ratchets integrally formedwith the drums as indicated at V The ratchets may be provided with anynumber of selected teeth and stops 112 are provided for engagingeachofthe ratchets of the three drums. These stops are mounted on, a rod 114which extendsthrough suitable openings in platesZ th ough 16. I v I 1These openings are indicated by reference numerals 113, 116, 118, 120,22, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 13 i, 136,

5138, 14% and -142,-and it is noted that some of--these in separate fromthe central openings for the reception of the long leg 38 and forming aportion of the bore 40. 1l."he3c8entral openings of the other platesreceive the long V Mounted below the long leg is a lever 17%) pivoted asat .172 and engageable at one end by the long leg 38 and engaging therod 114 at the other end thereof. The rod 114, of course, carries thestops 112 and hence when the lever .170 is pivoted by depressing thelong leg 38, the rod 114 is lifted lifting the stops out of engagementwith the ratchets permitting the ratchets to be rotated by the springsto their initial position with the lugs 90 engaging the stops 92. Aspring 174 is mounted in the openings 114, 116, 118 and 120 urging therod into a downwardly extending position with the stops 1 12 engagingthe ratchets.

Pawls indicated at 20ft, 202, and 204 have push buttons 206, 208, and210 pivoted thereto as at 212, see Figures 11 and 12. These pawls aresubstantially identical in construction and include cam surfaces as at214 thereon as well as retaining surfaces 216 which serve not only toretain the pawls 204 Within the openings 216, 218, and 220 provided inthe plates 14, 8 and 11, respectively, for the pawls which communicatewith the central openings in these plates but also to permit returnsprings 224 for the pawls to urge the pawls away from the ratchets. Thecam surfaces 214 cooperate with cam surfaces 230 in the plate 14 andsimilar cam surfaces 232 and 234 in the plates 8 and 11 for oil-settingthe path of travel of the pawl as it is pushed inwardly so that the pawlonce it has engaged with one of the teeth of the ratchet will move in apath tangent to the ratchet so as to rotate the ratchet as from theposition as is shown in Figure ll to the position as is shown in Figure12. The stops 112 will then serve to retain the ratchet and hence thecorresponding drum in that position.

In use, the shackle 36 is depressed so as to cause the lever 170 topivot so as to reset the ratchets. This is effected by the action of thesprings connected to the shafts and to the drums. Then, depressing eachof the push buttons of the pawls 200, 2&2, and 264 a predeterminednumber of times determined by the position of the recess 96 in theflange of the drum thereof, the drum is rotated until the position,where it is in alignment with the notches in the long leg 38 allowingthe entire shackle to be removed. It is noted that the detent cooperateswith the recess 42 only in preventing undesired and unnecessaryvibration of the shackle 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to .the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A combination lock comprising ahousing having a pair of bores therein, a U-shaped shackle receivable insaid bores, said shackle having a long leg and a short leg, said longleg having notches therein, a shaft fixedly mounted in said housing, aplurality of drums rotatably mounted on said shaft, said drums includingflanges receivable in said notches, said flanges having recessestherein-through which said long leg can pass, said drums includingratchets, and pawls for operating said ratchets slidably mounted in saidhousing and extending outwardly of said housing, springs terminallyengaging said shaft and said drums to urge said drums to an initialposition, a rod slidably mounted in said housing, stops on said rodengageable with said ratchets to limit rotation of said ratchets by saidsprings in one position of said rod, spring means normally'urgingsaid'rod into said one position, "a pivoted lever in said housingengaged by said rod, said long leg being engageablewith said lever topivot said lever to'lift said rod from said one position against theaction of said spring means to move said stops from engagement with saidratchets.

2. A combination lock comprising a housing having a pair of borestherein, a U-shaped shackle receivable in said bores, said shacklehaving a long leg and a short leg, said long leg having notches therein,a shaft fixedly mounted in said housing, a plurality of drums rotatablymounted on said shaft, said drums including flanges receivable in saidnotches, said flanges having recesses therein through which said longleg can pass, said drums including ratchets, and pawls for operatingsaid ratchets slidably mounted in said housing and extending outwardlyof said housing, said housing comprising a plurality of superimposedplates, and means holding said plates together, some of said plateshaving cam surfaces formed therein, said pawls engaging said camsurfaces and being deflected by said cam surfaces substantially tangentto the respective ratchet with which the pawls are associated, springsterminally engaging said shaft and said drums to urge said drums to aninitial position, a rod slidably mounted in said housing, stops on saidrod engageable with said ratchets to limit rotation of said ratchets bysaid springs in one position of said rod, spring means normally urgingsaid rod into said one position, a pivoted lever in said housing engagedby said rod, said long leg being engageable with said lever to pivotsaid lever to lift said rod from said one position against the action ofsaid spring means to move said stops from en gagement with saidratchets.

3. A combination lock comprising a housing having a pair of borestherein, a U-shaped shackle having a short leg and a long legrespectively received in said bores, said long leg having a plurality ofnotches therein, a plurality of ratchet means rotatably mounted in saidhousing and each such means including a circumferential flange portionextending into a corresponding one of said notches and each of suchflange portions having a notch therein to pass said long leg in oneposition of each of said ratchet means, means for manually actuatingeach ratchet means, spring means normally urging each ratchet means to apredetermined position, stop means for normally holding the position ofsaid ratchet means against the action of said spring means, said stopmeans including a rod slidably mounted in said housing and beingresiliently urged to one position in which said ratchet means are heldagainst the action of said spring means, a lever pivotally mounted insaid housing and engaging said rod, said lever being positioned withinsaid housing in the path of movement of said long leg when the same isbottomed within said housing to be pivoted thereby to move said rod andrelease the stop means from the ratchet means.

4. In a laminated lock structure, a plurality of stacked plates forminga housing and means for holding said plates together, ceitain of saidplates having registered holes therein providing a pair of bores in saidhousing, a U-shaped shackle having a long leg and a short leg "receivedin respective bores, said long leg having a plurality of notchestherein, a plurality of ratchet means rotatably mounted in said housingand each including a toothed ratchet wheel and including circumferentialportions extending into a corresponding one of said notches and normallyprevent withdrawal of said shackle, each of such portions having arecess therein to pass said long leg such that with all of the recessesaligned with said long leg, said long leg may be withdrawn from saidhousing, certain of said plates being provided with side openingstherein extended substantially radially with respect to said ratchetwheels, a pawl for each of said ratchet wheels and each having a shankreceived in one of said side openings and slidable therewithin towardand away from an associated ratchet wheel, each pawl having an enlargedinner end portion of dimensions greater than the width'of said sideopenings to prevent complete withdrawal of said pawls therethrough, eachof said'plates having said side openings therein being provided with aninwardly directed cam extending laterally inwardly at the inner end ofeach such side opening, said enlarged end of each pawl being engageablewith a corresponding cam when the pawl is moved toward said ratchetwheel to deflect said enlarged end into tangentially moving, engagedrelationship with an associated ratchet wheel, and spring means normallyurging said pawls away from said ratchet wheels.

5. The assembly defined in and by claim 4, spring means normally urgingsaid ratchet wheels to an initial position, stop means for normallyholding the position of each of said ratchet wheels, said stop meansincluding a rod slidably mounted in said housing and being resilientlyurged to one position in which said ratchet wheels are held against theaction of said spring means, av lever pivotally mounted in said housingand engaging said rod and being positioned in the path of movement ofsaid long leg when the same is bottomed within said housing to bepivoted thereby to move said rod and release the stop means from theratchet wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS330,137 Malley Nov. 10, 1885 1,166,634 Rock Jan. 4, 19l6 2,379,437 Hineset al. July 3, 1945 15 2,628,490 Klein Feb. 17, 1953

